Perennials
Perennial flowers and plants that return year after year in Tennessee gardens. Browse 61 entries in our identification guide.
Yarrow
Achillea spp.
Field guide to Yarrow (Achillea spp.) — sun, soil, bloom time, and care notes for Middle Tennessee landscapes. Zone 6b/7a.
Agastache
Agastache spp.
Agastache spp. (Giant Hyssop) field guide: sun, soil, bloom time, propagation, and native region for Tennessee landscapes. Attracts pollinators, deer-resistant.
Arkansas Blue Star
Amsonia hubrichtii
Arkansas Blue Star care guide for Middle TN. Learn pruning, planting times, and how to manage the stunning golden fall color of Amsonia hubrichtii in clay soil.
Common Blue Star
Amsonia tabernaemontana
Field guide to Common Blue Star (Amsonia tabernaemontana) — spring bloomer native to Tennessee, clay-tolerant, golden fall color. Zone 6b/7a.
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Identify Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) in Middle Tennessee. Perennial identification and care guide from Mr. Lawn Care, Columbia TN.
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Identify Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) in Middle Tennessee. Perennial identification and care guide from Mr. Lawn Care, Columbia TN.
Tatarian Aster
Aster tataricus
Field guide to Tatarian Aster (Aster tataricus) — late-fall bloomer, lavender-blue flowers, adaptable to Middle Tennessee clay soils. Zone 6b/7a.
False Indigo
Baptisia spp.
Field guide to False Indigo (Baptisia spp.) — long-lived native perennial with pea-like blooms, drought-tolerant, deer-resistant in Middle Tennessee. Zone 6b/7a.
Blackberry Lily
Belamcanda chinensis
Field guide to Blackberry Lily (Belamcanda chinensis) — summer-blooming iris relative with ornamental seed pods, suited to Middle Tennessee full sun. Zone 6b/7a.
Butterfly Bush
Buddleia davidii
Field guide to Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) — summer lilac, die-back perennial in Zone 6b, fragrant blooms, invasive seeding risk in Middle Tennessee.
Canna Lily
Canna spp.
Field guide to Canna Lily (Canna spp.) — tropical perennial for Middle Tennessee, wet-soil tolerant, Zone 6b overwintering tips, summer through frost bloom.
Sweet Joe-Pye Weed
Eutrochium purpureum
Field guide to Sweet Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) — vanilla-scented native, shade-tolerant, late summer bloom, statewide in Tennessee. Zone 6b/7a.
Blanket Flower
Gaillardia x grandiflora
Field guide to Blanket Flower (Gaillardia x grandiflora) — heat and drought tolerant perennial, long bloom season, needs sharp drainage in Middle Tennessee.
Wand Flower
Gaura lindheimeri
Field guide to Wand Flower (Gaura lindheimeri) — heat and drought tolerant perennial, airy blooms spring to frost, needs sharp drainage in Middle Tennessee.
Hardy Hibiscus
Hibiscus moscheutos
Field guide to Hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos) — native swamp rose mallow, dinner-plate flowers, wet-soil tolerant, statewide in Tennessee. Zone 6b/7a.
Bearded Iris
Iris germanica
Field guide to Bearded Iris (Iris germanica) — spring-blooming rhizomatous perennial, drainage critical in Middle Tennessee clay, borer and rot management. Zone 6b/7a.
Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Field guide to Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) — native Tennessee perennial, purple flower spikes July–August, clay-tolerant, monarch and butterfly magnet. Zone 6b/7a.
Bee Balm
Monarda didyma
Field guide to Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) — scarlet summer bloomer native to Tennessee, powdery mildew risk in Middle TN humidity, hummingbird magnet. Zone 6b/7a.
Sundrops
Oenothera fruticosa
Field guide to Sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa) — native Tennessee perennial, bright yellow daytime flowers in May–June, drought-tolerant, Highland Rim native. Zone 6b/7a.
Garden Phlox
Phlox paniculata
Field guide to Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata) — native Tennessee summer bloomer, powdery mildew management critical in Middle TN humidity. Zone 6b/7a.
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
Field guide to Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana) — native Tennessee fall bloomer, spreads aggressively by rhizomes, deer-resistant, hummingbird attractor. Zone 6b/7a.
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia fulgida
Field guide to Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida) — native Tennessee perennial, golden summer-to-fall bloom, clay-tolerant, pollinators and goldfinches. Zone 6b/7a.
Mexican Petunia
Ruellia simplex
Field guide to Mexican Petunia (Ruellia simplex) — heat-tolerant summer bloomer, aggressive spreader by seed and rhizome, invasive risk in Middle Tennessee. Zone 6b/7a.
Autumn Sage
Salvia greggii
Field guide to Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii) — hummingbird salvia, spring and fall bloom, needs sharp drainage in Middle Tennessee clay. Zone 6b/7a.
Gray Santolina
Santolina chamaecyparissus
Field guide to Gray Santolina (Santolina chamaecyparissus) — silver-foliage Mediterranean subshrub, drought-tolerant, needs sharp drainage in Middle Tennessee. Zone 6b/7a.
Perennial Begonia
Begonia grandis
Field guide to Perennial Begonia (Begonia grandis) — hardy begonia for shade gardens, late summer bloom, self-spreads by bulbils in Middle Tennessee. Zone 6b/7a.
Fringed Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
Field guide to Fringed Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia) — Appalachian native, summer-persistent foliage, shade perennial for Middle Tennessee. Zone 6b/7a.
Barrenwort
Epimedium spp.
Field guide to Barrenwort (Epimedium spp.) — drought-tolerant shade groundcover, dry shade performance, early spring flowers in Middle Tennessee. Zone 6b/7a.
Lenten Rose
Helleborus orientalis
Field guide to Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis) — winter-to-spring bloomer, evergreen shade perennial, drought-tolerant once established in Middle Tennessee. Zone 6b/7a.
Coral Bells
Heuchera spp.
Field guide to Coral Bells (Heuchera spp.) — shade perennial with colorful foliage, heat and humidity tolerance varies by cultivar in Middle Tennessee. Zone 6b/7a.
Plantain Lily
Hosta spp.
Field guide to Plantain Lily (Hosta spp.) — reliable shade perennial for Middle Tennessee, deer and slug management, cultivar selection for Zone 6b/7a.
Northern Maidenhair
Adiantum pedatum
Field guide to Northern Maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum) — native Tennessee woodland fern, fan-shaped fronds, moist rich shade sites. Zone 6b/7a.
Lady Fern
Athyrium filix-femina
Field guide to Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) — native Tennessee woodland fern, adaptable to clay soils and shade, fast-establishing. Zone 6b/7a.
Marginal Woodfern
Dryopteris marginalis
Field guide to Marginal Woodfern (Dryopteris marginalis) — drought-tolerant native Tennessee fern, evergreen, clay-adaptable, shade to part-shade. Zone 6b/7a.
Sensitive Fern
Onoclea sensibilis
Field guide to Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis) — aggressive native Tennessee fern for wet clay sites, frost-sensitive fronds, distinctive bead spores. Zone 6b/7a.
Cinnamon Fern
Osmunda cinnamomea
Field guide to Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) — native Tennessee fern with distinctive spore fronds, moist shade gardens, clay-tolerant. Zone 6b/7a.
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Field guide to Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) — drought-tolerant native Tennessee evergreen fern, shade to part-shade, clay-adaptable. Zone 6b/7a.
Gloriosa Daisy
Rudbeckia hirta
Field guide to Gloriosa Daisy (Rudbeckia hirta) — native Tennessee short-lived perennial, yellow summer blooms, self-seeding, drought-tolerant, pollinator plant. Zone 6b/7a.
Mealycup Sage
Salvia farinacea
Field guide to Mealycup Sage (Salvia farinacea) — violet-blue summer-to-frost blooms, hummingbird and bee plant, drought-tolerant once established. Zone 6b/7a.
Monkey Grass
Liriope muscari
Field guide to Monkey Grass (Liriope muscari) — clumping evergreen border plant, full sun to full shade, clay-tolerant, violet late-summer blooms. Zone 6b/7a.
Pussytoes
Antennaria plantaginifolia
Field guide to Pussytoes (Antennaria plantaginifolia) — native Tennessee groundcover for dry rocky sites, early spring bloom, host plant for Painted Lady butterfly. Zone 6b/7a.
Purple Passionflower
Passiflora incarnata
Field guide to Purple Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) — native Tennessee vine, edible maypop fruit, butterfly host plant, drought-tolerant. Zone 6b/7a.
daylily
Hemerocallis spp.
Field guide to Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.) — clay-tolerant ornamental perennial, summer blooms, divide every 3–5 years, watch for leaf streak and rust in humid summers. Zone 6b/7a.
salvia
Salvia nemorosa
Field guide to Salvia (Salvia nemorosa) — violet-blue spring blooms, well-drained soil required, pollinator magnet, drought-tolerant once established. Zone 6b/7a.
sedum
Sedum spp.
Field guide to Sedum (Sedum spp.) — drought-tolerant stonecrop perennials for well-drained sites, native TN species available, excellent drainage required. Zone 6b/7a.
peony
Paeonia lactiflora
Field guide to Peony (Paeonia lactiflora) — fragrant late-spring blooms, long-lived in TN landscapes, watch for Botrytis blight in humid springs. Zone 6b/7a.
lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
Field guide to English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) — fragrant summer blooms, requires excellent drainage in TN's humid climate, heat-tolerant cultivars recommended. Zone 6b/7a.
catmint
Nepeta x faassenii
Field guide to Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii) — lavender-blue spring blooms, drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, rebloom with shearing in summer. Zone 6b/7a.
ferns
Polypodiopsida
Overview of ferns (Polypodiopsida) for Middle Tennessee landscapes — native and ornamental species for shade, clay tolerance, and moist or dry sites. Zone 6b/7a.
chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum morifolium
Field guide to Garden Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) — fall blooms, pinch for compact form, overwintering tips for Middle Tennessee clay soils. Zone 6b/7a.
shasta daisy
Leucanthemum x superbum
Field guide to Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) — white summer daisy, divide every 3 years, heat-tolerant 'Becky' cultivar for Middle Tennessee. Zone 6b/7a.
gaura
Oenothera lindheimeri
Field guide to Gaura (Oenothera lindheimeri) — airy white-pink summer blooms, drought-tolerant taproot, self-seeding, excellent heat performance in Middle TN. Zone 6b/7a.
ajuga
Ajuga reptans
Field guide to Ajuga (Ajuga reptans) — fast-spreading groundcover for shade and clay, spring blooms, watch for crown rot in humid Middle TN summers. Zone 6b/7a.
campanula
Campanula persicifolia
Field guide to Campanula (Campanula persicifolia) — peach-leaved bellflower, summer blue or white blooms, self-seeding, watch for powdery mildew in humid TN. Zone 6b/7a.
dianthus
Dianthus plumarius
Field guide to Dianthus (Dianthus plumarius) — fragrant cottage pinks, well-drained alkaline soil required, heat-tolerant 'Bath's Pink' cultivar for Middle TN. Zone 6b/7a.
penstemon
Penstemon digitalis
Field guide to Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis) — native Tennessee foxglove beardtongue, clay-tolerant, white late-spring blooms, hummingbird and bee plant. Zone 6b/7a.
platycodon
Platycodon grandiflorus
Field guide to Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) — midsummer blue-pink blooms, taproot-based drought tolerance, late to emerge in spring, long-lived. Zone 6b/7a.
veronica
Veronica longifolia
Field guide to Veronica (Veronica longifolia) — upright violet-blue summer spikes, clay-adaptable, bee and butterfly plant, watch for mildew in humid TN summers. Zone 6b/7a.
yucca
Yucca filamentosa
Field guide to Yucca (Yucca filamentosa) — native TN Adam's Needle, drought-tolerant, white summer blooms, clay-adaptable, pollinated by yucca moth. Zone 6b/7a.
heliopsis
Heliopsis helianthoides
Field guide to Heliopsis (Heliopsis helianthoides) — native Tennessee oxeye sunflower, golden midsummer blooms, clay-tolerant, monarch and butterfly plant. Zone 6b/7a.
pulmonaria
Pulmonaria saccharata
Field guide to Pulmonaria (Pulmonaria saccharata) — early spring shade perennial, silver-spotted foliage, pink-to-blue flowers, shear for mildew control in summer. Zone 6b/7a.
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